Archive for
July 21st, 2014

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent forward Ryan Kelly, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

“When we extended a qualifying offer to Ryan in June, we fully expected him to be a part of our future,” said Kupchak. “Ryan did everything we asked of him as a rookie and showed great promise and potential. After rehabbing an injury last summer, he will have the benefit of a full offseason regimen and training camp for the first time in his NBA career, and we anticipate further development as a result.”

In 2013-14, his rookie NBA season, Kelly averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.8 blocks in 22.2 minutes per game, and started 25 contests while appearing in 59 total games. The 23-year-old Kelly scored 20+ points on three occasions last season, including a career-high 26 on February 5th at Cleveland and became just the third Laker rookie in the last 20 years (Kobe Bryant and Eddie Jones) to score 17+ points in consecutive games when he did so 1/17 at BOS and 1/19 at TOR.

In five games while on assignment with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League, Kelly averaged 25.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks in 39.6 minutes.

The 6’11’’ forward was selected by the Lakers in the second round (48th overall pick) in the 2013 NBA draft. The former McDonald’s All-American, who earned a 2010 NCAA Championship as well as two ACC Championships with Duke, played all four seasons for the Blue Devils, where he averaged 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 46% from the field. As a senior, Kelly was named ACC Player of the Week twice and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors despite missing 13 games due to injury. Kelly finished his final season with the Blue Devils averaging 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocked shots in 28.9 minutes per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed guard Nick Young to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

“When Nick became a free agent in June, I expressed hope that we would be able to bring him back on a contract that was in the best interest of both the Lakers and himself, and I am proud to say we were able to do so,” said Kupchak. “Nick was a bright spot for us last season, and we are happy to retain such a skilled player who is committed to being a part of what we are building as a franchise.”

Young had a career year in 2013-14 after originally signing with the Lakers as a free agent in July, 2013. The Los Angeles native averaged a career-high 17.9 points in his first season in the purple-and-gold, twice hitting the 40-point mark, and led the team in scoring a team-best 22 times. In a predominantly bench role (nine starts in 64 games), Young averaged 18.8 points as a reserve, ranking him 1st in the NBA for points per game among players who came off the bench 20 or more times. Young also led the league in four-point plays last season (seven, also a Lakers franchise record) and finished 3rd in the NBA in points per touch (0.45).

After a three-year collegiate career at USC, the seven-year pro was drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 16th pick of the 2007 NBA Draft. Young was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in March 2012 and played the following season (2012-13) for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free-agent forward Trevor Booker.

Booker (6-8, 235, Clemson) is a four-year veteran who owns career averages of 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20.3 minutes over 235 career games (105 starts), all with the Washington Wizards. This past season, he registered 6.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, including 24 games of 10-plus points and five double-doubles. Booker also led the Wizards in field goal percentage (.551, 222-of-403) and recorded a career-high 379 total rebounds during the 2013-14 campaign.

Originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft by Minnesota prior to his rights being traded to Washington, Booker was the first senior selected in that year’s draft class.

Prior to the NBA, Booker played four seasons at Clemson University from 2006-10. He ranks fifth all-time at Clemson in scoring with 1,725 career points and third all-time in school history with 1,060 rebounds. Booker helped led the Tigers to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a school-record 93 victories during his four-year tenure. He also became the first player in ACC history to record 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 200 blocks, 200 assists and 100 steals in a career. Booker averaged double figures in scoring in all four collegiate seasons.

Born in Newberry, S.C., Booker played high school basketball at Union County and was named the 2006 Gatorade High School Player of the Year in South Carolina following his senior season. He also won a bronze medal with Team USA at the World University Games in the summer of 2009.

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-signed forward Matt Bonner.

Bonner has spent the past eight seasons in San Antonio, the longest tenured player with the Silver and Black outside of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The 6-10 forward has appeared in 530 games with the Spurs, averaging 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes while shooting .459 (1,170-2,551) from the field and .417 (595-1,428) from three-point range. Among Spurs all-time NBA leaders, Bonner ranks third in three-pointers made, seventh in three-point field goal percentage and ninth in games played. During the 2010-11 season he led the NBA in three-point shooting with a .457 (105-230) mark from beyond the arc. Bonner has appeared in 87 playoff games for the Silver and Black, averaging 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.5 minutes.

A 10-year NBA veteran, Bonner was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 45th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to the Toronto Raptors where he spent his first two NBA seasons. For his career, the New Hampshire native has appeared in 690 NBA games, averaging 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds 17.7 minutes while shooting .467 (1,626-3,481) from the field, .417 (736-1,736) from three-point territory and .777 (304-391) from the foul line. Among active players he ranks seventh in three-point field goal percentage.

The Phoenix Suns have signed free agent forward Anthony Tolliver to a multiyear contract, the club announced today.

“We are very pleased to welcome Anthony to Phoenix,” said President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “He has impressed us not only with his play, but with his intelligence and high character.”

“Anthony is a great fit for our style of play,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “His shooting, professionalism and leadership will help us as we try to continue to build a strong foundation going forward.”

The 6-8, 240-pound Tolliver is a six-year NBA veteran who shot a career-high 41.3 percent from three-point distance with Charlotte last season. Tolliver averaged 6.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 20.3 minutes in 64 games (nine starts) in his one season with the Bobcats.

A native of Springfield, Mo., Tolliver holds career averages of 6.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 41.4 percent field goal shooting, 35.2 percent three-point shooting and 78.4 percent free throw shooting in 307 games with San Antonio, Portland, Golden State, Minnesota, Atlanta and Charlotte. Tolliver averaged a career-high 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds playing primarily with the Warriors in the 2009-10 season, including a career-high 34 points on April 7, 2010, at Minnesota.

A product of Creighton University, Tolliver went undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft and earned his spot in the league with performances in the NBA D-League, as well as professionally in Germany and Turkey.

The Chicago Bulls announced today the signing of 2014 second round draft pick Cameron Bairstow. Chicago selected Bairstow (BARE-stow) with the 49th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

“We like Cameron’s combination as a player with his size, energy and physicality,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “He is a hard worker who will only get better with time.”

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Bairstow is a 6-9, 250-pound forward who played four seasons at the University of New Mexico. In 134 games with the Lobos, he posted 9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.8 apg and 0.74 bpg in 20.8 mpg. For his collegiate career, he also shot .517 from the field and .717 from the line.

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have signed free agent Rodney Stuckey.

Stuckey, a 6-5, 205-pound guard, has seven years of NBA experience, all with the Detroit Pistons. He was a No. 1 pick of the Pistons (15th overall) in the 2007 NBA Draft after playing collegiately at Eastern Washington. While with the Pistons, Stuckey had a career average of 13.4 points per game with a career high 16.6 average in 2009-10. He made the NBA’s All-Rookie second team after the 2007-08 season.

“Rodney is a very talented player who can create and score in a variety of ways,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “We’re very happy to get a player with his experience and who has made it very clear of his desire to win.”

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent forward Richard Jefferson.

Jefferson (6-7, 234) is a 13-year veteran with career averages of 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 32.1 minutes in 934 games (772 starts) with New Jersey, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Golden State and Utah. He appeared in two NBA Finals as a New Jersey Net alongside former Mavericks Jason Kidd and Vince Carter and won a bronze medal as a member of Team USA at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Last season, Jefferson played in all 82 games (78 starts) for Utah averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 27.0 minutes while shooting .450 from the field, .409 from three-point range and .741 from the foul line.

A standout at the University of Arizona, Jefferson led the Wildcats to the 2001 NCAA Championship Game before being drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 13th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has signed free agent forward Marvin Williams. According to multiple media outlets, the deal may be for two years, $14 million.

“We’re excited to add a player of Marvin’s caliber to our team,” Cho said. “He will be a key piece of our frontcourt rotation with his versatility and ability to play both forward positions.”

The 6-9 Williams was the second overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft after one season at the University of North Carolina and earned All-Rookie Second Team honors. In nine NBA seasons, he has played in 626 total games for the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz, with career averages of 10.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29.1 minutes. He has shot .447 from the field (2431-5444), .335 from beyond the three-point line (353-1054) and .804 from the free-throw line (1533-1907).

Williams saw action in 66 games for the Jazz last season, averaging 9.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 25.4 minutes. He made a career-high 84 three-point field goals and his three-point percentage of .359 (84-234) was the second highest of his career.

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has re-signed guard Kirk Hinrich.

According to the Associated Press, it is a two year deal that will pay Hinrih $2.7 million next season.

“Kirk has always been a big part of creating the professional culture we want day in, day out surrounding our club,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “He helps our team in so many ways and Kirk had other opportunities elsewhere, but we are very happy he chose to remain in a Bulls uniform.”

An 11-year veteran of the NBA, the 33-year old Hinrich (6-4, 190) has played in 767 (636 starts) regular-season games and averaged 11.8 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.1 rpg and 1.19 spg in 32.3 mpg. He owns career shooting averages of .413 from the field, .377 from downtown and .802 from the line. Hinrich has also appeared in 55 (46 starts) NBA playoff games where he has posted 13.0 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.2 rpg, 1.29 spg, 33.8 mpg and shot .428 from the field, .399 from behind the arc and .745 from the stripe.